We were lucky to catch up with Carri Degenhardt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carri , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Prior to starting City Swipes , I owned a Wall Street retained search firm for over 20 years. These two careers couldn’t be further apart in skill sets and clientele but my ambition remains the same. I attend many artistic functions now as opposed to steak dinners and it’s awesome to be invited to the cool kids table on either said. That said,I do think about things totally differently and reflects in my artwork. The first thing people will say to me is that “Your work, it’s very different” Wall Street is definitely a sink or swim venture and as turns out art is also. Many artists will only entertain those that have a degree in it and are quite pretentious about that aspect. The good ones don’t though because they recognize that different is actually good. My mindset has always been “how can I up my game”. I’m out there teaching and creating 10 hours a day, working to create the best pieces that I can. The teaching is an additional revenue stream that creates happiness in my students and clientele. I love that. They also realize that they can’t actually do what i create in the studio. Right away. It builds brand value.

Carri , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Prior to City Swipes, I owned a well street retained search firm for 20 plus years. I was a dealmaker with wall streets top talent and to this day adored my clients and advisors. Let’s just say it’s a lot different than mixing paint and applauding swirling colors , but throughout my years I knew that I wanted to meet different types of people as well. People are coming from all over the North East to the studio. Just last weekend I had two couples from Pittsburg in. I’ve got a good name on Tik Tok apparently. There are three distinct revenue streams which are the studio space (private events, workshops, date nights and more), the gallery and boutique which includes various original artworks , micro painting upcycled jewelry to hand painting totes, purses, boots and more and our mobile unit that will go out to a building or festival and host an event offsite.
I got into this industry by fluke? Or addiction? Who knows! At the tail end of COVID I was trying to decide what to do when I started watching those addictive fluid art videos. I had no idea I was enrolling myself iin YouTube University
But I did. Next thing I knew I opened the studio and am back building a totally different business. I used to be a columnist for an industry trade rag and people in the industry knew my name and now it’s all about the instagram and getting the word out that way. It’s funny , I’ve never had so many people watching me. Good days. Bad days and small business worries. I was recently interviewed by NBC New York Live for being one of the most creative places in the NYC area. I like that because my space makes people feel good and relax. Even more so. , my ever changing artwork makes people happy. I’ll never be that hyper realistic artistic person, but there’s a home for whimsical, abstract and crystal art and those who love it. Art should leave something to the imagination That’s alot of the attraction. It actually has health benefits as well. The mystery of the unknown turns out is good for you!
I paint on many different substrates. From canvas, insulation board to kicks, cowboy boots to purses and totes. In my boutique/gallery there is always a unique design When people come in they are mesmerized and wonder why I’m not in manhattan. I tell them I don’t have that much time! But if the opportunity comes up. So be it.
We just started classes and events outside the studio as well. So weather you want an amazing team building experience or to have fun with friends in your building , I’m your gal.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience. Yes. It’s hard , but you can’t let the nay sayers get you down. You continue when I first got into recruiting in Chicago I recall this man who I was speaking to on the phone saying “you will never make it on this business” Then he hung up. I was new. Fragile even and then self doubting. 30 year forward I still remember that guys name. I. Won’t say it. But I went one to prove him wrong. And then some. I did what it took to elevate myself and carve out a path in a niche market. I had put an art piece out on social media about 2 years ago and this one troll said “ I can’t believe you posted this. It’s just so bad” It sold last week. Work past the negatives

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Well. I’m self funded at this point. I was careful to invest in property and it helps provide supplemental income I would like to be able to scale up the business to multiple locations in this next year. So that may not always be the case. I’m open to options. The different revenue streams help also. Before I was answering these questions. I was switching sales platforms.

Contact Info:

• Website: Https://www.cityswipes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityswipes/
• Other: My phone is dying. I’ll have to finish this in morning